The daughter of South Korea’s former military dictator Park Chung-hee has become the nations’s first ever female president. Park Geun-hye has narrowly defeated her left-wing rival Moon Jae-in, in one of South Korea’s most closely fought elections since the country’s transition to democracy in 1987.
oters braved sub-zero winter temperatures to vote in huge numbers, with indications suggesting a turnout as high as 75.8%. Moon, a former human rights lawyer popular primarily among younger voters, had suggested that to be in with a serious chance of victory he needed a turnout of at least 77%.
While Park’s gender has proven a topic of discussion amongst observers of the campaign, the key issue for the electorate seems to have been the country’s slowing economy. Income disparity and youth unemployment have increased under incumbent president Lee Myung-bak, and the economy is set to grow at its slowest pace since 2009. The perception amongst older, conservative voters that Park was the candidate better suited to tackle these issues is likely to have decided the outcome of the election.
With North Korea’s successful rocket launch last week, the neighbouring state also became a key election issue. While Moon pledged unconditional aid and a reintroduction of engagement policies which ushered in closer ties between the two nations at the turn of the millennium, Park has been less clear-cut, simply promising dialogue with new leader Kim Jong-un.
South Korea remains divided over the legacy of Park’s father, who’s authoritarian rule lasted for eighteen years from 1961 until his death in 1979. While some credit him with laying the foundations for modern South Korea’s significant economic clout, others, including, presumably, Moon, who was among democracy activists imprisoned during the elder Park’s reign, consider him a brutal tyrant responsible for the torture and execution of opponents, and for delaying the arrival of democratic reforms.
by Sam Jones
